Sujctric meter service



Patented Jon. 27,.l i931 i, ,si

'Josera sacas, marrone, connncrrcn'r smentire-.trarne snrzvrcnsrrnrsrrcn @riginal-application filed February '3, 'lSa'Aseral Ito.Maese. minded and this application annery is, rese. serial ne. aimee.

Mms, which this present application is a n; ision.

'lhe object of the present invenion is to,

provide in combination with a fused switch. appliance ot the typereferred to suitable meter testing facilities which are convenientlylocated and which are supported and connected in a novel andadvantageous manner.

lln the accompanying' drawings ll have shown one embodiment of theinvention but it will bepunderstood that the drawings are intended forillustrative purposes only and are not to he construed as defining orlimiting the scope ot the invention', the claims forming a part of thisspecification being reliedupon for that purpose.

0f thedrawings:

Fig. l is a front view of an appliance embodying the invention the frontcover being broken' away to show interiorparts.

Fig. 2 is a bottom View of the fused switch appliance, this view alsoshowing the enclosing cabinet in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the parts shown in Fig. l, certainportions of the enclosing cabinet being shown in section.

F ig. 4'is a fragmentary iront view similar to Fig. l but showing thefuse base and one of the blocks carrying the testing elements removed inorder that other parts may be more clearly shown.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5 5of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View similar toy Fig. 5 butshowing an alternate embodiment of the invention.

[n theembodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, there are twopairs of fuse contac and two separate switching devices, but it will beunderstood that the invention is not necessarily limited to anyparticular number of ,fuses and switches. The fuse and switch contactsand also the meter testing facilities are shown symmetrically disposedwith respect to the vertical central plane or the appliance, and for thesalie oit convenience and simplicity of description, il will describedetail only Ythose parts on one side of the said plane, it heingunderstood that the on the other side are, or may be, the saine inconstruction except for reversal ot positions.

Fuse receiving contacts l. and 2 are provided on the front face or aninsulating base 3. Means are provided Qlor supporting they base 3 intired spaced relationship to a rear support. il lien there is anenclosing1 cabinet this support may be the rear wall or the cabinet. thefuse contacts as shown are adapted tor receiving a cartridge enclosedtuse such as F, but it will be understood that the invention is notlimited for use withiiuses or this particular type.

ln addition to the main rear support, l prefer to also provide anindependentinsulating supporting device which is ordinarily secured tothe main rear support hut` which is ,nevertheless separate therefrom.This supporting device is shown at 4, 4 in the drawings and may comprisetwo separatedhars or insulating material. `lflhen such a separatesupporting device is provided, the fuse' contacts and the base are alsonormally held in lined spaced relationship therewith.

Preferably, a plurality ot supporting elements are provided which areconnected at their forward portions with the base and at 'their rearportions with the main rear support, preferably indirectly by means orthe separate supporting device 4, 4. The supporting elements arepreferably formed ot metal and they serve to support the insecontactsand the base in the described relationu ship with the said rearsupport. As shown, there are at least two such supporting elements :foreach pair et fuse contacts, these being represented at 5 and 6respectively, The supporting elements/5 and 6 are shown as beingZ-shaped, but as to this there may loe variation. The supportingelements have their rear portions connected with the suporting device 4,4 by means of screws 7, 7. uitable means such as screws 8, 8 areprovided for mechanically connecting the forward ortions of thesupporting elements with t e fuse base 3, the screws extending throughholes 9, 9 in the said base. These screws 8, 8 preferably also serve toelectrically connect the v:fuse contacts with therespective su portingelements, but I do not necessarily unit myself to the use of the same Iscrews or other holding means for providing both mechanical and anelectrical connection.

Located at least in part in the space behind a vertical plane extendingthrough the rear` l ed directly upon and electrically connected withcorresponding supporting elementsv 5 and 6. One or both of thesupporting elements 5 and 6 are electrically connected with one or bothof the fuse contacts 1 and 2.

Preferably each of the said switch contacts 10 and 11 is one of a pair.The other contacts of the airs are shown at 12 and 13 respectively anthey are similar res ectively to the contactslO and 11 but opposltelypositioned. Two pairs of stationary switch contacts are shown but theinvention is not so limited. Contact supporting elements 14 and 15 areprovided for the contacts 12 and 13, these preferabl being similar tothe main supportin e ements 5 and6 and being similar y secure to thesupporting device 4, 4 as by screws 7 7. Connected with each supportingelement 14 is a wire connecting terminal 16. I have shown a terminal ofthe solder lug type, but I do not so limit myself. For establishing orbreaking electrical connection between the `switch contacts of the saidpairs 10,12 and 11, 13, I preferably provide for each pair a switchingelement which is rectilinearly movable substantially parallel with thefront face of the supporting device and with the rear face of the' fusebase. When. there are two pairs of stationary switch`cont-acts there aretwo conducting switching elements 17 and 18 insulated from each otherand adapted respectively to engage and discngage the said stationaryswitch contacts. The two conductin switching elements 17 and 18 arepreferab y carried by an insulating element 19, which with the saidconducting elements constitutes a rectilinearly movable switchingmember. rlhe insulating element 19 is preferably in the form of a flatplate, the said conducting elements 17 and 18 extending through it andprojecting somewhat beyond the opposed surfaces thereof as shown. Thedetails of the switching member may be as shown in my patent for amasarelectric circuit controlling appliance, No. 1,754,444 issued April 15,1930. When the stationary switch contacts are located as shown, the saidflat insulating element 19 is arranged perpendicularly to the supportingdevice and to the fuse base. The said element may extend into a groove20 formed in the base 3.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that when theswitching member is in the on position as shown, a circuit will beestablished from the wire connecting terminal 16 through the contactsupporting element-14 and the switch contacts 12, 17, and 10, to thesupporting element 5 and thence to the fuse contact 1. Similarly aconnection is established from the fuse contact 2 through the supportingelement 6 and the switch contacts 11, 18 and 13 to the contactsupporting element 15. When the switching member is moved upward fromthe position shown, the.v elements-17 and 18 will be disengaged from thestationary switch contacts and circuit'will be broken at two points ateach side of the fuse, thus making a total of four breaks. Although theswitching member is guided between the base 3 and the supporting device4, 4 and is held by these parts against forward or backward movement, itis entirely free to adjust itself laterally to conform to the positionsof the several stationary switch contacts. f

When there are two switching devices as shown and described, there maybe provided an insulating baie plate 21 located between them. Thisisshown as being held in a slot in the fuse base 3.

I have shown an enclosing cabinet 22Y of sheet metal having a rear wall23, side walls 24, 24 and end walls 25 and 26. The upper end wall 25preferably has an 'opening therein which adapts the cabinet for directprotective relationship with an electric meter ,such as M. As shown theterminal chamber portion projects through the said opening in the endwall 25. The cabinet has an openable front cover 27, which is shownasbeing hinged at '27 to the bottom end wall 26. VSuitable means such as aspring latch 28 is provided for holding the cover in closed position anda seal 29 may be provided for preventing the. opening of the coverexcept by breaking the seal. The fused switch unit as a whole is securedto the rear wall 23 of the cabinet by means of screws 30, 30 engagingthe supporting `device 4, 4. If preferred a sheet of insulating materialmay be interposed between the device 4, 4 and the cabinet wall 23.

For operating the switch members there is provided a spindle 31including two pivot sections 32 and 33iextending through bearingopenings-in the side walls 24, 24 of the cabinet. The said spindle isbent to form a manually operable handle 34 outside of the terconnections C* and C extend from the meter M to wire connectingterminals 52, 52 mounted on the blocks 46, 46 adjacent the terminals 51,51. The outgoing circuit wires L, L are connected directly withterminals 53, 53 which-terminals are connected res ectively with theterminals 52, 52 b means o movable testinglinks 54, 54. As i lustratedthe links 54, 54 arel entirely removable, but this is not essential..The testing links 54, 54 asshow-n are of awell known construction, eachlink being slotted near its ends and thus adapted' to receive studs 55and 56 connected respecstud and witli tively with the correspondingterminals 52 and 53. Each link has an insulating handle 54. It will beseen that by removing the links 54, 54 the circuit may be brokenbetweenthe said terminals 52, 52 and 53, 53.

Preferably, in addition to the testing links 54, 54 I provide othersimilar links 57, 57 interposed between the terminals 51, 51 and thecorresponding switch contact supporting elements 15, 15. As alreadystated each element 15 is provided with an extension 47. At the front ofeach block is a short conductor 58 connected with the correspondingextension 47 byY means ofstuds 59 and 60. The corresponding testinilrlink 57 is connected with the a similar stud 61 connected with thetermina-l 51. .Y

In addition to the removable links54, 54 and 57, 57 I also providecontacts adapted for. the attachment of by-passing connectionsA from theswitch contact supporting element 15, 15 to the terminal 53, 53. Forthis purpose, I uti ize at each side the before-mentioned/stu 59 and asimilar stud 62 connectedW-ith the said terminal 53.l Links 63, 63 maybe provided as vshown in dot-anddash lines in Figs. 1 to 3 forconnecting the said studs 59, 59 and 62, 62. It will be seen that whenthe links 63, 63 are in place, the circuit will extend directly throughthe switch and fuse to the load terminals 53, 53. Itis then possible toeitherpartly or entirely disconnect the meter and electrically free theterminals thereof by removing some or all of the links 54, 54 and 57,57.

The general arrangement of switch and fuse parts with the testingelements at the sides of the fuses is notl herein broadly claimed/beingset forth in my copending application for electric meter serviceappliance,

Serial No. 715,320, filed May 23rd, 1924. The

specificmeter testing devices herein shown and described do not ofthemselves constitute a part of the present invention, being set forthand claimed in my copending applica. tion for electric meter serviceappliance, Serial No. 170,784 filed February 25, 1927.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that, in theillustrated embodiment of the invention the fuse base and the blocks forthe testing elements are supported independently of each other, althoughthe invenl:mman

tion is not so limited. 'VAS shown the said base and blocks areindependently supported by means of separate supporting elementse'xtending forward from -the rear supporting device 4, 4. Preferabl thesame supporting elements, or some of t ein, serve to support thestationary contacts of the switch device.

viding access to thel testing means.

The supporting elements 5, 5 and 6, 6 have been described as connectedwith the fuse I base 3. lThe base may be rigidly and permanentlyconnected with these elements if so desired, but I prefer to detachablyconneet it or at least movably connect it, so that it can be moved orremoved from the normal position in order to permit free access to theswitching device. The fuse base is shown as being so mounted that it canbe completely detached from the supporting elements by merely unscrewingthe screws 8, 8. Preferably in order that the contacts 1 and 2 may be`retained upon the fuse base when the base is detached, each of thescrews 8 carries a washer 64 located in a recess 65 in the base. It willbe obvious that as the screw 8 is withdrawn from the sup orting element-the washer 64 will move orward in the recess 65, but that the washerwill engage the front surface of the recess to prevent completewithdrawal of the screw, thus holding the Award edge of the switchingmember to hold it and guide it for rectilinear movement; but when thefuse block is removed, the rectilinearly movable switching memberisentirely exposed and is entirely freev to be removed in a. forwarddirection. In this connection it will be observed that the slot 37 isopen toward the rear, thus permitting the aforesaid forward removal ofthe switching member.

In Fig.'7 I have shown a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 1to 6 but differing in that the fuse block is so mounted that it may bereadily removed by direct manual action and Without the use of tools.Instead of providing means such as the screws 8, 8 for providing both anelectrical connection and a positive mechanical connection with is splitas shown at 684 and it 'normally enters lll,

an engages the sides of an Unthreaded hole formed in the correspondingsupporting element o". Thus the element 8a serves to les tablish anelectrical connection between the fuse contact and the'correspondingsupporting element carrying the corresponding stationary switch contact,but no positive mechanical connection is provided, the fuse block beingfree to be manually removed in a forward direction.

l may-provide interchangeable fuse blocks so that any one of severalfuse blocks adapted for holding fuses ,of diderent electricalcharacteristics, may be connected with the other parts of the" appliancewithout any extensive changes in the' said parts. in Fi 7 l have shown alonger fuse base 3B, this ase carryv ing fuse contacts, such as l,constructed and spaced for receiving a fuse F longer than the iuse l?and having diderent electrical characteristics. Each of the fusecontacts is held in place on the base by means of a screw 69 and each ofthem is provided with an extension 70 having a hole therein throughwhich entends the corresponding connecting screw, such at 8E. The fusebase 3@ is considerably longer than the fuse base 3 and accordingly acorresponding cabinet cover (not shown) is provided having an openingtherein correspending in length to the length of the fuse base 3a..

lt will be observed that the separate mounting of the fuse base and ofthe supporting block for the meter testing elements makes it possiblefor the base to be removed or interchanged as decribed without in anyway interfering with or affecting the said testing elements or thewiring connections. The positions of the testing elements are such thatthey do not in any way interfere with the inspectionr or adjustment ofthe switch parts upon removal of the base.

'What ll`claim is:

l. ln an electric meter service appliance, the combination of rearinsulating supporting device, a plurality or" supporting elementsstructurally separate from the supporting device and projecting forwardtherefrom, a switch device located at the front-of the supporting deviceand comprising a pair of stationary switch contacts and a switchingelement movable to make and break electrical connection between the saidcontacts, an insulating base supported at least in part upon some of thesaid supporting elements in normally fixed spaced relationship with therear insulating supporting device and in front of the switch device, apair of fuse receiving contacts on the base, and meter testingfacilities also supported at least in part upon some of the saidseparate supporting elements in ired spaced relationship with the rearinsulatingsupporting device.

' 2. In an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearsupport, a. plurality of supporting elements structurally separate vfromthe support .and projecting forward therefrom, a switch device locatedat the front of the support and comprising a pair of stationary switchcontacts and a switching ele` ment movable to make and break electricalconnection between the said contacts, an insulating base supported atleast in part upon v some of the said supporting elements in normallyxed spaced relationship with the rear support and in front of the switchdevice, a pair of fuse contacts on the base, an insulating 'memberseparate from the base in fixed spaced relationship with the rearsupport and supported at least in part on supporting elements .otherthan those upon which the base is supported, and meter testing elementscarried by the said sepa-rate insulating member.

3. ln an electric meter service appliance, the combination of rearinsulating supporting device, a plurality of supporting elementsstructurally separate from the supporting device and progectin forwardtherefrom, a switch device locate atthe front of the/supporting deviceand comprising apair of stationary switch contacts and a switchingelement movable to make and break electrical connection between the saidcontacts, an insulating base supported at least in part upon some ol thesaid supporting elements in normally xed spaced relationship with therear insulatin supporting device andfin front of the switc device, apair of fuse contacts on the base, an insulatingmember separate from thebase in fixed spaced relationship with the rear insulating supportingdevice and supported at least in part on supporting elements other thanthose upon which the base is supported, and meter testing elementscarried by the said separate insulating member.

Ll. lin an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearsupport, a plurality of supporting elements structurally se arate fromthe support and projecting orward therefrom, a switch device located atthe front of the support and comprising a pair of stationary switchcontacts carried respectively by two of the said supporting elements andalsocomprising a switching element movable between the said contacts .tomake and break electrical connection between them, an insulating basesupported in partupon the said supporting elements in normally fixedspaced relationship with the rear support and in front of the switchdevice, a

,pair of fuse receiving contacts on the base,

and meter testing facilities also supported in them, an insulating basesupported in part on one of the said supporting elements, in normallyXed spaced relationship with the said support, a pair of fuse receivingcontacts on the base, an insulating member separate from the base andsupported independently thereof in part onthe vother supporting elementin fixed spaced relationship with the rear support, andniete'r testingelements carried by the said separate insulating member.

6. In an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearsupport, a pair of metallic supporting elements projecting forward fromthe support, a pair of opposed stationary switch contacts mounted uponand electrically connected with the respective supporting elements, aswitching element movable between the said contacts to make.

and break electrical connection between them, an insulating basesupported in part on one of the said supportingelementain normally fixedspaced relationship with the rear supl port, a pair of fuse receivingcontacts on the base, a conducting element extending through the baseand electrically connecting the last said supporting element with onefuse contact, an insulating member separate from the base and supportedindependently thereof in part on the other supporting element innormally lixed spaced relationship with the rear support, meter testingelements carried by theseparate said insulating member, and a conductingelement extending through the insulatin member and electricallyconnecting the ot er supporting element with one of the testingelements.

7. In an electric meter service appliance, the combination ofa rearsupport, two pairs of metallic supporting elements projecting forwardfrom the support, an insulating base supported in part on one supportingelement of each of the said pairs, in normally fixed spaced relationshipwith the rear support, a pair of fuse receiving contacts on the base atthe front thereof, and electrically connected respectively with onesupporting element of each of the said pairs,two pairsof opposedstationary switch contacts mounted on and electrically connected withthe respective supporting elements, a rectilinearly movable switchingmember engaging at its front edge with the said base to be guided inpart thereby and comprising twp spaced conducting elements movablerespectively between the contacts of the said pairs to make and breakelectrical connection between them, an insulating member separate fromthe base and supported independently thereof in part on the othersupporting element Aof one of the said pairs, in fixed spacedrelationship with the rear support and meter testing elements carried bythe said insulating member with one of the said testing elementselectrically connected with the last said supporting element.

8. In an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearinsulatmg supporting device, two pairs of supporting ele- .mentsstructurally separate from the supportingdevice and projecting forwardtherefrom, an insulating base supported in part on one'supportingelement of each of the said pairs, a pair of fuse receiving contacts onthe base at the front thereof, two pairs of opposed stationary switchcontacts mor nted respectively on the said supporting elel. ents, arectilinearly movable switching member engaging at its front edge withthe said base to be guided in part thereby and engaging at its rear edgewith the supporting device to be guided in part thereby, the'saidsw'tching member comprising two spaced con ucting elements movable'respectively between the contacts of thesaid pairs to make and breakelectrical connection between them, anl insulating member separate fromthe base and supported independently thereof in part on the othersupporting element of one of the said pairs, in fi ed spacedrelationship with the saidlsupporing device, and meter testingelements'carried by thev said separate insulating member. v

' 9. In an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearsupport, two pairs of supporting elements structurally separate from thesupport, and projecting forward i therefrom, an insulating basesupported in part on one supporting element of each of the said pairs innormally xed spaced rela tionship with the rear support, a pair of fusereceiving contacts on the base Vat the front thereof, two pairs ofopposed stationary switch contacts mounted respectively on the saidsupporting elements, a rectilinearly movable switching member engagingat its front edge with the said base to be guided in part thereby andcomprising two spaced conducting elements movable respectively betweenthe contacts of the said pairs to make and break electrical connectionbetween them, an insulating member separate from the base and supportedindependently. thereof in part on the other supporting element of one ofthe said pairs in fixed spaced relationship with the rear support, metertesting elements carried by the said separate insulating member, and anadditional supporting element for the said separate insulating memi I'ber structurally separate from` therear suplill port and projectingforward therefrom.

. l0. ln an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearsupp'ort, a switch device located at the front of the support andcomprising two stationary contacts and a conmeter testing facilities inXed spaced relations'hip with the support and for holding it againstremoval with the base.

il, ln'an electric meter service appliance, the combination of arearsupport, a switch device located at the front of the support andcomprising two stationary contacts and a contact element movable to makeand break electrical connection between them, an insulating base, a pairof fuse receiving contacts on the base, means for detachably andremovably supporting the base upon the said support in normally fixedspaced relationship therewith and in front of at least a portion of theswitch. device, the said supporting means permitting free access to theswitch device from the front when the fuse base and the contacts carriedthereby are removed., meter testing facilities, and means carried by thesupport independently of the said base for supporting the said metertesting facilities at one side of the base and in spaced relationshipwith the said support and for holding it against removal with the base.

. l2,v ln an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearsupport, a switch device located at the liront of the support andcomprising two-stationary contacts and a contact element movable to makeand break l ical connecton between them, a pluy ci interchangeableinsulating bases a rality of pairs/ot fuse receiving-contacts on therespective bases, adaptedv for receiving fuses having li'erentelectrical charac-v teristics, means for detach/ably and removablysupporting any one of the bases upon 'the said support in normally fixedspaced relationship therewith and in. front ci at least a portion of theswitch device, the ysaid supporting means permitting one base and thefuse contacts carried thereby'to be removed .and another put in place,meter testing facilities, and means carried by the support independentlyofv any of thesaid bases for supporting the said meter testingfacilities in fixed spaced relationship with the support and for holdingit against removal withy the bases.

13. lin an electric ineterservice appliance, the combination of a rearsupport, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts -located at thefront of the support, a movable Vswitching member comprising twoconducting 'elements respectively movable between the said contacts ofthe corresponding pairs` to make andbreak electrical connectlon betweenthem, aninsulating base, a pair of fuse receiving contacts on the base,means for detachably and removably supporting thebase upon the saidsupport in normally iixed spaced relationship therewith and in front ofat least a portion of theswitching member, the said supporting meanspermitting free access to the switch contacts and the switching memberfrom the front when the fuse base and the contacts carried thereby areremoved, meter testing facilities, and means carried by the supportindependently ol the said base for supportin the metertesting facilitiesin iixed spaced relationship with the support and for holding it againstre\ moval with the base.v v

lll. In an electric meter service appliance, the combination ci a rearsupport, two pairs of metallic supporting elements projecting forwardfrom the support, an insulating base, means for detachably and removablysupporting the base upon one supporting element of each of the saidpairs, in normally fixed spaced relationship with the rear support, apair of 'fuse receivingcontacts on the base at the front thereof, andelectrically connected respectively with the last said supportingelements, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts mounted on andelectricall)` connected with the respective supporting elements, arectilinearly movable switching member engaging at its front edge withthe said base so as to be guided thereby and so as to be removable inthe forward direction when the base is removed, the said switchingmember comprising two spaced conducting elements movable respectivelybetween the lcontacts oi the said pairs to maire and breakelectricalconnection between them, an insulating member separate Jrom the base andsupported independently thereof in part on the other supporting elementof one of 4the said pairs, in fixed spaced relationship with the rearsupport, and meter testing elements carried by the said separateinsulating member with one ot'the testing elements electricallyconnected with the last said sup,- porting element. i I

l5. wrn an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearinsulating supporting device comprising two separated parallel bars,supporting elements structurally separate from the respective bars, andprojecting forward therefrom, an insulating base supported on supportingelements projecting from both bars, and thereby held in normally xedspaced relationship with the said bars, a pair of fuse receivingcontacts on the base at the front thereof, a switch device located atleast in part behind the base and comprising two stationary switchcontacts carried by the supprting device and an element movable to makeand break electrical connection between the said contacts, an insulatingmember separate from the base and supported independently thereof onsupporting elements projecting from both bars, andy thereby held infixed spaced relationship with the bars, and meter testing elementscarried by the said separate insulating mem ber.

16. In an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearinsulating supporting Adevice comprising two separated parallel bars,supporting elements structurally separate from the respective bars andprojecting forward therefrom,an insulating base, means for detachablyand removably supporting the base on supporting elements projecting fromboth bars, to thereby hold it in normally fixed spaced relationship with,25' the said bars, a pair of fuse receiving contacts on Vthe base 'atthe front thereof, a switch device located at least in part behind thebase and comprising two stationary switch contacts carried by thesupporting .de-

vice and an element movable to-make and break electrical connectionbetween the said feontacts, an insulating member separate from the baseand supported independently thereof on supporting elements projectingV35 from both bars, and therefore held inlixed spaced relationship withthe bars, and meter testing elements carried by the said `separateinsulating member.

17. In an electric meter service appliance,

40 the combination of a rear insulating supporting device comprising twoseparated parallel bars, two pairs of metallic supporting elementsprojecting forward from the respective bars, an insulating basesupported in part on one supporting element of each of the said pairs,and therebyheld in normally fixed spaced relationship with thesaid bars,a palr of fuse receiving contactsonthe base at the front thereof, andelectrically connected respectively with the last said sup- "with 'thesupporting element of one of the said pairs,

and thereby held in fixed spaced relationship said bars, and metertestin elements carried by the said separate insuiting member with oneof the testing elements electrically connected with the last saidsupportin element.

18. n an electric meter service appliance, the combination of a rearinsulating sup.- porting device comprising two separated parallel bgars,two pairs of supporting elements structurally separate from the re ctivebars and projecting forward therefrom, an insulating ase supported inpart on one supportin element of each of the said pairs, and there yheld in normally fixed s aced relationship with the said bars, a pairof) fuse receiving contacts on the base at the front thereof, two pairsof opposed stationary switch contacts mounted respectively on the saidsupporting elements, a rectilinearly movable switching member engagingatits front edge with the said base to be guided in part thereby and engain at v,its near edge with the barsg o y t e supporting device to beguided in parttherebyfthe said switching memberfcmprising two spacedconductlng elements; movable frespectively between thecontactsfefthensaid pairs to make and break eletricaljconnection betweenthem, an insulating member separate from the base andi'stpportedindependently thereof in part on the other supporting ela;J ment of oneof the said pairs, and thereb:Y held in fixed spaced relationship 111ththe said bars, meter testing elements carried by the said separateinsulating member, and an operating device for the switchin memberlocated in part in thespace behmd the base and the insulating memberandl between the supporting elements projecting `forward from therespective bars of the supporting device. e

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day ofDecember, 1927.

JOSEPH SACHS.

lporting elements, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contactsmounted on and electrically connected with the respective supportingelements, a rectilinearly movable switching member engaging at its frontedge with the said base to be guided in part there- .by and engagingatits rear edge with the bars of the supporting device to be guided inpart thereby, the said switching member comprising two spaced conductingelements movable respectively between the contacts of the said pairs tomake and break electrical connection between them, an insulating memberseparate from the base and supported independentlv thereof in part on`the other los I

